Zerwas, F. K., Ford, B. Q., John, O. P., & Mauss, I. B. (2024).
Emotion. Advance online publication.
Abstract
Previous work suggests that sometimes the more people value happiness, the less happy they are. For whom and why is this the case? To answer these questions, we examined a model of happiness pursuit that disentangles two previously conflated individual differences related to valuing happiness. The first individual difference operates at the strength of the value itself and involves viewing happiness as a very important goal (i.e., aspiring to happiness). The second individual difference occurs later in the process of pursuing happiness and involves judging one’s levels of happiness (i.e., concern about happiness). This model predicts that aspiring to happiness is relatively innocuous. Conversely, being concerned about happiness leads people to judge their happiness, thereby infusing negativity (i.e., negative meta-emotions) into potentially positive events, which, in turn, interferes with well-being. We tested these hypotheses using cross-sectional, daily-diary, and longitudinal methods in student and community samples, collected between 2009 and 2020, which are diverse in gender, ethnicity, age, and geographic location (Ntotal = 1,815). In Studies 1a and 1b, aspiring to happiness and concern about happiness represented distinct individual differences. In Study 2, concern about happiness (but not aspiring to happiness) was associated with lower well-being cross-sectionally and longitudinally. In Study 3, these links between concern about happiness and worse well-being were partially accounted for by experiencing greater negative meta-emotions during daily positive events. These findings suggest that highly valuing happiness is not inherently problematic; however, concern and judgment about one’s happiness can undermine it.
The research is paywalled.
Here are some thoughts:
This research suggests that constantly judging your own happiness can have negative consequences for your well-being. In a series of experiments involving over 1,800 participants, researchers found that individuals who worried about their level of happiness experienced lower life satisfaction, greater negativity, and increased depressive symptoms.
Societal pressures often perpetuate the idea that constant happiness is necessary for well-being. However, the study reveals that allowing yourself to experience emotions without judgment can be a more effective approach to achieving happiness. Contrary to previous findings, the pursuit of happiness itself did not have detrimental effects, but rather the act of judging one's own happiness that led to negative outcomes.
The study's results highlight the importance of accepting your emotions, both positive and negative, without trying to measure up to unrealistic expectations. By doing so, individuals can cultivate a more authentic and fulfilling approach to happiness, rather than getting caught up in self-criticism and disappointment.
